TOKYO (AFX-ASIA) - The trade surplus in April fell to 665.9 bln yen from 1.14 trln yen the year before, the Ministry of Finance said. Total exports fell to 4.33 trln yen from 4.38 trln last year, while imports rose to 3.67 trln from 3.24 trln.
The ministry provided details of the surplus, exports to and imports from the following regions, with year-on-year comparisons:

U.S.:
Surplus - 669.8 bln yen, down 7.4 pct
Exports - 1.34 trln yen, down 0.2 pct
Imports - 66.9 bln yen, up 8.4 pct

EU:
Surplus - 281.8 bln yen, down 18.9 pct
Exports - 714.3 trln yen, down 4.8 pct
Imports - 432.5 bln yen, up 7.3 pct

Asia:
Surplus - 167.7 bln yen, down 62.1 pct
Exports - 1.74 trln yen, down 1.7 pct
Imports - 1.57 trln yen, up 18.5 pct